Method of and apparatus for treating fabric after it has been produced



y 6, 1954 0. PERSONS 2,682,847

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREA G FABRIC AFTER IT HAS BEEN PRODUC Filed March 24. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ORVILLE C. PERSONS BY I ATTOR Y yfi, 1954 o. c. PERSONS 2,682,847

. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS F OR TREATING FABRIC AFTER IT HAS BEEN PRODUCED 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24. 1952 l INVENTOR l ORV/LLE' C.PER$ON$ I I I YATTO EY y 1954 o. c. PERSONS 2,682,847

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRIC AFTER IT HAS BEEN PRODUCED Filed March 24. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR ORV/L LE C. PERSONS ATTOR Y y 1954 o. c. PERSONS 2,682,847

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRIC AFTER IT HAS BEEN PRODUCED Filed March 24. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 9"- I32 30 |48 |2B FIG. 8. 0

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I52. I72 I64- l2 I? "8 l I0 INVENTOR OR /Lu: C.PER$0N5 BY i I g ATTO EY Patented July 6, 1954 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREAT- ING FABRIC AFTER IT HAS BEEN PRO- DUCED OrvilleC. Persons, Perkas ie, Pa.; Naomi G. Persons, executrix of Orville 0. Persons, deceased Application March 24. 1952, Serial No. 278,214

9 Claims. (Cl. 112-217) The present invention relatesto tubular fabric and more particularly to the method of and apparatus for the treatment of the fabric after it has been produced.

In the production of tubular fabric of the type commonly employed for the production of belt loops it has heretofore been the custom to feed a fiat tape to a sewing machine of the blind stitch type in which the tape after having-its longitudinal side edges folded over is stitched along the adjacent side edges to produce a strip of tubular cross section, and then subject the tubular strip to a pressing operation by which the strip was flattened and the stitching located medially between opposite side edges of the strip. Such methods of production of strips of tubular fabric not only are time consuming but frequently produce a shiny surface on the finished product due to the frictional contact underpressure of the heated pressing surface with. the tubular fabric.

The primary object of the present invention is to produce in a single operation and with but a single handling of the fabric tape a flattened tubular fabric strip which is ready for use and free from shinein an area. 1

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features stitching together the longitudinal side edges of an elongated fabric tape to form a tubular strip, as said fabric strip is formed, saturating it with water vapor, and while said strip is so saturated flattening it by passing it over a surface which moves at the same lineal speed at which the tape is stitched.

Other features include a guide along which the strip moves as it leaves the stitching apparatus, means mounted adjacent the guide for directing steam onto; the strip to saturate it with moisture while it moves along the guide, and a surface mounted adjacent the guide to move at the same lineal speed as the strip onto which the strip is directed from the guide and with which said strip moves as it leaves the guide.

The flat surface of the moving strip must l'ay level and nearly adjacent to the steam chamber without touching, so that the loop is flattened before the steam vapor is chilled into condensation. The coolingeffect of the airmust be nil before the tubular fabric reaches the flattened moving surface the vapor in the fabric must-not condense untilthe tubular fabric reaches the" flattened surface and is flattened.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blind stitch sewing machine showing the strip conventional 2 saturating apparatus and the moving strip flattening surface.

Figure 2 is a perspective end view of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention, parts being shown fragmentary and in section.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a section of a study of material, showing a portion flat and a portion looped and stitched.

v Figure '7 is another form of a driven pulley.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of supporting frame for the roller, parts being shown broken.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an end elevational view of the supporting frame and roller in Figure 8 looking in the direction from left to right.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the steam chest body and the hingedly mounted head and showing a groove in the head. 7

Referring to the drawing in detail a table [0 has mounted thereon adjacent one side a conventiona1 sewing machine of the blind stitch type l2 having a head [4 so disposed as to feed the stitched work in a rectilinear path transversely across the table Hi. The machine is provided with a conventional foot operated control treadle I6 by means of which the stitching is governed in a conventional manner.

Carried by the table I!) adjacent the side thereof remote from the sewing machine are spaced parallel upwardly extending standards I8 which are located equidistant from and on opposite sides of the rectiliner path along which the work travels upon leaving the head. Horizontally extending parallel supporting arms 20 are carried by the standards above the'table l0 and extend from the side thereof in a direction opposite the sewing machine [2.

Secured to the supporting arms 20 on the under sides thereof is a bed plate 22 carrying a pair of depending spaced parallel arms 24 between which is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis which is spaced from the adjoining edge of the table and lies perpendicular to the rectilinear path, a roller 26 having a transversely flat periphery 28 which lies tangent to the rectilinear path.

wardly therefrom adjacent the side thereof adjacent the sewing machine are spaced brackets upon which is mounted a traction device designated generally 32. This traction device comprises an elongated bed 34 carrying adjacent opposite ends upwardly extending pedestals 36 in which is mounted a drive shaft 38 carrying intermediate its ends a peripherally knurled traction drum 40, the axis of which lies below the periphery of the roller 26, and the periphery of which lies in a horizontal plane tangent to the periphery of the roller 26. Mounted for rotation in vertically movable bearing blocks 42 which are mounted for vertical movement above the shaft 38 on upwardly extending guide pins 44 carried by the pedestals 36 is a horizontally extending shaft 46 carrying intermediate its ends a tension drum 48 which when no fabric is on the traction drum has peripheral contact therewith. Carried by the guide pins 44 above the bearing blocks 42 are heads 53, and encircling the pins 44 between the bearing blocks 42 and the heads 50 are compression coiled springs 52 which yieldingly urge the tension drum 48 toward the traction drum 4D. Mounted on the drive shaft 38 for rotation therewith is a driven pulley 54 which is driven by an endless belt 56 which extends around the drive pulley 58 mounted for rotation on the drive shaft 66 of the sewing machine I2. Also mounted on the shaft 38 is a friction disk that may be secured by a set screw (not shown).

Mounted on the table In between the head I4 of the sewing machine I2 and the roller 26 is a steam chest designated generally 62 comprising an elongated hollow body 64 of substantially rectangular cross section having in its upper surface 66 a longitudinally extending groove 68 which extends throughout the length of the body 64 and opens upwardly to form a guide for the tubular strip as it issues from the head I4 of the sewing machine I2 and advances along the rectilinear path, the body 64 being provided with a hingedly mounted cover 65, and this cover may be provided with a groove 66 similar to groove 68. The bottom wall of groove 68 lies substantially horizontal and tangent to the peripheral surface of the roller 26. Formed in the bottom wall of the groove 68 and communicating with the interior of the body 64 are longitudinally spaced openings 10 through which steam issues from the interior of the body 64 to saturate with moisture the sewn tubular strip as it moves in the rectilinear path in groove 68. Steam is introduced into the interior of the body through a duct I2 which is connected to a suitable steam generator I4 through a valve that is pivotally carried by a plate I6, the valve being opened and closed by a control lever I8. A retractile coiled spring 83 is provided having one end seated in plate I6, the opposite end seated in the control lever I8 to yieldingly hold the valve closed. A suitable linkage 82 connects the lever I8 to the treadle I6 so that when the latter is moved to start the operation of the sewing machine I2, the lever I8 will be moved against the effort of the spring 80 to open the valve I6. To provide for adjustment of the linkage 82 there is interposed in the linkage a turnbuckle 83.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the table Iil, sewing machine I2, steam chest 62 and traction device 32 are all as previously described but in place of the bed plate 22 and depending arms 24 I employ a pair of spaced parallel depending arms 84 which are pivotally suspended as at 83 from a pair of supporting arms 20 which correspond in position on the table to the arms 26. A roller 25 is mounted in the arms 84 to rotate between them about a horizontal axis which lies parallel with the table and below the rectilinear path. The periphery 28' of the roller 26" is transversely flat and lies substantially tangent to the rectilinear path along which moves the tubular strip as it issues from the sewing machine I2. Fixed to a cross member 88 which is carried by and extends between the arms 84 above the roller 25 is a lever arm 90 which projects laterally from the arms 84 in a direction away from the table and pivotally connected to the lever arm 96 is a depending link 92. Mounted on the under side of the table intermediate opposite sides thereof for adjustment in parallel relation to the rectilinear path is a depending bracket arm 94 to which is mounted for rocking movement intermediate its ends an elongated tension release lever 96 and which is pivotally connected adjacent one end to the link 92. The end of the tension release lever 96 remote from the link 92 is provided with a notch 98 in which is received the shaft 46' which corresponds to the shaft 46 so that when said shaft 46 is moved upwardly against the effort of the spring 52 to move the tension drum 48' away from the traction drum 40', pull will be exerted on the lever arm 90 to rock the arms 84 about the pivot 86 and advance the roller 26 toward the head of the sewing machine. Thus it will be seen that the path taken by the tubular strip from the sewing machine head and the traction device 32 will-be shortened so as to relieve the tension on the tubular strip during the threading of the strip through the machine.

As shown in Figure '7 a modified form of driven pulley may be provided for controlling the speed of the traction device. 32, and it comprises a disk I00 having a tapering wall IIlI and :a shoulder I02 that is provided with a threaded bore I33 that receives a set screw I64, the'disk Iilii also being provided with a threaded shaft I35. Mounted on the shaft I05 is a disk IDS having a tapering wall I61 and a threaded bore for engagement with the shaft for adjustment toward and away from the disk IBIS, the disk I06 being locked on the shaft I65 by a lock-nut I48.

In Figures 8, 9, and 10 a modified form of supporting frame for the roller 26" is provided, and it comprises an element II'6 having in each side wall II8 a slot I20. Engageable with the inner face of the side walls H8 are arms I22 of element I24, arms I26 being disposed at right angles to the arms I22 and having a slot I28. The inner face of arms I26 are engaged by straps I36 that are secured to the arms by lock nuts I32. To the straps I30 there is pivotally mounted one end I34 of arms I36, each arm being provided with a vertical slot I38 that receives the ends of a wheel axle I42, the axle being locked to the arms I36 by nuts I44. In order that the arms I36 may be under spring tension, a flange I46 having a bore is carried by each of the arms I36 and disposed at an angle thereon.

To the arms I26 there is secured by a rivet I48 one arm I50 of a right angle bracket I52, the other arm I54 having a bore that receives the shank I56 of bolt I58 that passes through and is locked to the arm by a lock-nut I50. The shank I56 passes through the aperture in the flange I45 and carries adjacent its end an adjustment nut I62. Encompassing the shank I56 between the The arms I22 a're.connected by astrap I18. having a central threaded aperture that receives.

the shank I'I2 of adjustment screw I", the shank I176 engaging a bore in the tabletop I0, the

screw I14 serving as an adjustment for the rollerv 26" with reference to the chest 62.

In the operation it will be understood that a end of the steam tape T entering the sewing machine I2 will bev folded longitudinally thereby and the adjacent.

edges of the tape will be sewn together to produce a tubular strip S. As the strip S issues from the head I4 of the sewing machine I2 it moves in a rectilinear path through the groove 68 in the steam chest 62. By reason of the linkage 82 extensing betweenthe control treadle I6 of the sewing machine I2 and the leverJB of the control valve in the steam duct'12,.it will be evident that with the operation of the sewing machine I2, livesteam from the steam generator I4 will pass through the-openings .70 and moisten the tubular strip S while it moves in the rectilinear path defined by the Walls of the groove 68. The tubular strip S is guided around the flat. rim 28 of the roller 26 and then introduced between the traction drum 40 and. tension drum 48 of the traction device 32, the traction drum of which is driven in unison with the sewing machine I2 throughthe mediumof the endless V-belt 56 which travels over the driven-pulley 54 of the traction device 32 and is driven by the pulley 58 of the sewing machine I2. The flat rim 28 of the moving roller 26 on its periphery lies level and tangent to the rectilinear path of the loop and adjacent to one end of the steam chamber 62 without touching the end of the chamber. It will thus be seen that the moistened tubular strip S will be flattened as it passes around the periphery of the roller 26 so that the side edges of the strip S will be permanently creased with the row of stitches located substantially midway between opposite side edges of the strip S. By reason of the fact that the periphery of the roller moves at the same lineal speed as the strip S, and that the roller 26 has only rolling contact with the strip, it is evident that no rubbing of the surface of the strip occurs and hence the strip will be pressed into the desired shape without the production of shiny areas such as are experienced when the strip is pressed and flattened in the conventional manner. It is also to be noted that the steam vapor in loop S is chilled by surface of the roller 26 into condensation after the loop is flattened and by air action is dried while the loop is travelling around roller 26. The cooling effect of the air on the steam vapor is m'l while the loop leaves the groove 68 in the steam chest 62. It is not until after the loop is flattened on the roller 26 that condensation takes place and this action and the subsequent evaporation and expelling of moisture by air action while the loop is traveling around roller 26, sets the loop into a flattened shape.

In order to facilitate the rapid threading of strip S around the roller and through the traction device the structure disclosed in Figure is employed. When the roller 26' is intensely drawn toward the steam chest by action of the traction .device mechanism 32 by too great a tension on certain fabrics caused by greater adherence to the knurled roller of the traction device, then a downward movement is exerted in excess of the ordinary pull on arm 92 through the hinging of arm 84 at 86. By this action the traction end of arm 96 will move upward through fulcrum 94 which is adjustable to force a lesser or greater tension, the upward movement of the shaft '46 will separate the tension 48 from the traction drum 40, thus automatically releasing the traction, relieving the tension and pull on strip S. Thus it will be seen that the weight of the roller 26' tends to hinge arm 84 toward the perpendicular and again place strip S under tension.

Inthe modified form of the invention as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the springs I!64 act as the equalizing medium for the arms I36 to adjust for tension as previously described for Figure 5. The distance of the periphery of the roller 26" from. the. end of the steam chest 62 is regulated by the adjustment screw .I'I4.

By the use of the above described device it is evident that a fabric tape T may be automatically and rapidly converted into a flattened tubular fabric strip S from which thebelt loops and the like may be cut as required. Obviously by attaching a meter to the sewing machine I2 or table I0 to engage the strip S in any selected area between the head I4yand the traction device. 32 the production of the device may easily be measured.

While the invention hasbeen disclosed in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof,'-=it is to be noted that these are by way of example rather than by way of limitations and.

stitching together the longitudinal side edges of I a fabric tape to produce a tubular fabric strip; moving said fabric strip in a rectilinear path,

while so moving said strip impregnating it with moisture, moving said strip while it is so impregnated in an arcuate path in contact with a strip flattening surface which moves in unison with the strip, and delivering the flattened strip to a station adjacent its source of origin.

2. The herein described method of producing a tubular flattened fabric strip which includes stitching together the longitudinally side edges of a fabric tape to produce a tubular fabric strip, moving said fabric strip in a rectilinear path, while so moving said strip impregnating it with moisture, moving said strip while it is so impregnated in an arcuate path in contact with a strip flattening surface which moves in unison with the strip and while said strip moves in the arcuate path exerting tension thereon to expel moisture from the strip.

3.. In apparatus for producing a flattened tubular fabric strip, a sewing machine of the type having means for joining opposite side edges of a length of fabric tape to produce a tubular fabric strip, a strip flattening surface mounted in spaced relation to the sewing machine for contacting the strip and being moved by it while guiding the strip in a rectilinear path and means operatively connected to said sewing machine and mounted in spaced relation to the strip flattening surface engaging said strip and exerting tension on the strip while it is in contact with the flattening surface.

4. The structure defined in claim. 3 in which the strip flattening surface comprises a roller mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis with its periphery lying tangent to the rectilinear path.

5. In apparatus for producing a flattened tubular fabric strip, a sewing machine of the type having means for joining opposite side edges of a length of fabric tape to produce a tubular fabric strip, a strip flattening surface mounted in spaced relation to the sewing machine for contacting the strip moving in unison with it while guiding the strip in a rectilinear path, means operatively connected to said machine and mounted in spaced relation to the strip flattening surface for engaging said strip and exerting tension on the strip while it is in contact with the flattening surface, and means mounted adjacent the rectilinear path between said machine and said flattening means for impregnating the strip with moisture prior to its contact with the strip flattening surface.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the strip flattening surface comprises a roller mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis with its periphery lying tangent to the rectilinear path.

7. In apparatus for producing a flattened tubular fabric strip, a sewing machine of the type having means for joining opposite side edges of a length of fabric tape to produce a tubular fabric strip, guide means mounted adjacent the sewing machine for directing the strip as it is formed by said sewing machine along a rectilinear path, a strip flattening roller mounted adjacent the rectilinear path for contact with 8 E the moving strip as it leaves the rectilinear path, and means mounted adjacent the rectilinear path between said machine and said roller for impregnating the strip with moisture prior to its contact with the roller.

8. In apparatus for producing a flattened tubular fabric strip, a sewing machine of the type having means for joining opposite side edges of a length of fabric tape to produce a tubular fabric strip, guide means mounted adjacent the sewing machine for directing the strip as it is formed by said sewing machine along a rectilinear path, a strip flattening roller mounted adjacent the rectilinear path for contact with the moving strip as it leaves the rectilinear path, means mounted adjacent the rectilinear path between said machine. and said roller for impregnating the strip with moisture prior to its contact with the roller, means mounted in spaced relation to the roller and operatively connected to move in unison with said machine for engaging said strip and exerting tension thereon for expelling moisture from the strip as it moves in contact with the roller.

9. The structure defined in claim 7 in which the means for impregnating the strip with moisture includes an elongated steam chest mounted between the sewing machine and the roller and having openings extending through a wall thereof through which steam is directed toward the strip.

Name Date Rosenbaum et a1. Sept. 4, 1928 Number 

